Can Lebron make the all-NBA Defensive 1st team this year?

RealTalkof916 · Post #1 » by **RealTalkof916** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:25 pm

He's definitely stepped up his defense this year. Has he improved enough to make all-NBA Defensive 1st team?

Discuss.

Gordon Bombay · Post #2 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:27 pm

this should go well

srt4b · Post #3 » by **srt4b** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:28 pm

If you can't provide anything worthwhile to the topic at hand, just don't bother posting.

Thanks

Jules Winnfield · Post #4 » by **Jules Winnfield** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:57 pm

no

Rasheeed!!! · Post #5 » by **Rasheeed!!!** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:02 pm

statistically yes, but otherwise he's just not on that level yet

Speaking of All-D 1st Team.....Stephen Jackson just HAS to be here.

C'mon Cavs · Post #6 » by **C'mon Cavs** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:04 pm

I dont know how anyone can comment on things like this unless they watch just the defense involved in every single NBA game all season long.

A lot is going to depend on media hype and gaining the reputation as a great defender...my bet is that he'll make 2nd or 3rd team this year, and then next year, he'll play maybe a little bit better defense, but the media will hype him up so much that he'll be a DPOY candidate. Once he establishes his reputation (which will start this year by getting selected to 2nd or 3rd team) then he'll start reeling off 1st team defense year after year.

So please, unless you've watched every single Cavs game like I have, dont talk to me about LeBron's defense. I know more about his defense than you know if you havent watched all the games.

prekazi · Post #7 » by **prekazi** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:09 pm

GJense4181 · Post #8 » by **GJense4181** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:09 pm

^There is no third team.
Although, I believe that lately there have been more than five players named to each "team".

The day Lebron makes first-team All-NBA defense is the the day he wins the MVP. It'd be hard to deny the NBA's leading scorer AND top five-six defender at that point.

So, really, that's what you're asking: When will Lebron's defense catapult him into MVP favorite-status?

NetsForce · Post #9 » by **NetsForce** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:12 pm

Negative.

prekazi · Post #10 » by **prekazi** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:15 pm

He's playing really good defense, especially in 4th quarters but 1st team? Not yet.

C'mon Cavs · Post #11 » by **C'mon Cavs** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:15 pm

I think his defense is severely underrated by many. I dont think people have seen enough of him this year to know just how much he's improved on D.

In a nutshell, he's basically tripled his defensive intensity from a year ago and he has shown much better footwork than he has in years past. The days of him just playing the passing lanes and getting caught out of position going for steals are long gone.

He very rarely will go for a steal and not get it, as he often did in his first 2 years in the NBA.

On top of that, his increased intesity on the defensive end has made him into a very good shot blocker. He never, ever gives up on a play defesively and will sprint the length of the court to block a shot from behind (he's done this countless times this year).

He has been great on defense this year...not just good.

legacyinthemakin89c · Post #12 » by **legacyinthemakin89c** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:18 pm

Alright if your gonna argue with all of our opinions, and say you know everything better then us, then why would you ask in the first place?

No his defense has improved, but its not elite. He's a forward and he's not going to beat out Duncan, Garnett, Jackson, Bowen, even Gerald Wallace and Josh Smith arguably deserve it more then Lebron does.

He's improved his defense, but he's not better then those guys.

J-Mezzy · Post #13 » by **J-Mezzy** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:29 pm

McGrady is the better defender

_BBIB_ · Post #14 » by **_BBIB_** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:53 pm

srt4b wrote:WHO PAYS ATTENTION TO THESE ALL-BS TEAMS FOR MORE THAN A 2 SECOND TICKER ON THE BOTTOM OF ESPN8?

You're talking about a MB community that said the NBA was ruined when Lebron won MVP of an exhibition game.

The Letter J · Post #15 » by **The Letter J** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:58 pm

legacyinthemakin89c wrote:Alright if your gonna argue with all of our opinions, and say you know everything better then us, then why would you ask in the first place?

No his defense has improved, but its not elite. He's a forward and he's not going to beat out Duncan, Garnett, Jackson, Bowen, even Gerald Wallace and Josh Smith arguably deserve it more then Lebron does.

He's improved his defense, but he's not better then those guys.

I think you're confusing actual team and individual defensive ability with defensive statistics. Josh Smith and Gerald Wallace are great energy guys, but both consistently make bad defensive decisions.

FWIW, Stephen Jackson's defense is definitely overrated now. He's a tough guy that doesn't back down from anyone, but he isn't in the same sentence as far as team defensive awareness as a Bowen, Duncan, Garnett, or Battier.

ajbry · Post #16 » by **ajbry** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:03 pm

Team defensive awareness? You're penalizing him because his teammates put either little effort forward or simply don't know what they're doing?

Regarding the topic at hand... No.

a-rod · Post #17 » by **a-rod** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:03 pm

RealTalkof916 wrote:He's definitely stepped up his defense this year. Has he improved enough to make all-NBA Defensive 1st team?

Discuss.

Who Are You Bill Walton?

CzBoobie · Post #18 » by **CzBoobie** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:08 pm

It would great if anyone who watches A LOT of NBA basketball could actually explain what makes guys like Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith, T-Mac or Stephen Jackson better defenders than LeBron...Not based just on reputation but watching them play this year.

hermes · Post #19 » by **hermes** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:10 pm

he may have improved a lot
and his defense is underrated
but he isn't going to make the first team this year

MaxRider · Post #20 » by **MaxRider** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:12 pm

i would rank Garnett, Duncan, Artest, Bowen over LeBron
so no defensive 1st team for LeBron